Supermarket Accident Compensation Claims
Accidents can happen anywhere, even when you visit your local supermarket. A simple trip to the store can result in an injury due to the negligence of the store owners or management. If this were to happen to you, possessing a little knowledge of what situations might give rise to a potential claim for compensation is useful. This page will discuss everything you need to know about supermarket accident claims.
Introduction to Supermarket Accident Compensation Claims
Supermarket accident claims are personal injury claims made by individuals who have suffered injuries while shopping at a supermarket. Such injuries can result from slips and falls due to a wet floor, tripping over a box, or some other hazard left in one of the aisles. If you’ve had an accident in a store, you may be wondering about customer injury liability and how much compensation you could receive for a fall in a supermarket.
Types of Accidents That Can Occur in a Supermarket
Slips, Trips and Fall accidents
The most common cause of supermarket accidents is ‘slip, trip, and fall’ accidents. Wet and slippery floors caused by spillages, leaks, or overzealous cleaning can cause people to lose their footing and fall. Fall accidents can cause sprains, broken bones, and head injuries.
The store’s management should make sure the supermarket floor is safe from hazards by keeping floors clean and dry to prevent slip, trip, and fall accidents. Accident prevention includes carrying out a risk assessment employing proper cleaning and maintenance procedures and training employees to identify and address potential problems.
Objects that fall from height
Another common cause of supermarket accidents is when objects fall from high storage shelves. Items placed on high shelves can fall and hit customers, causing injuries. Accidents can also occur if products are stored incorrectly or when customers try to reach items on high shelves.
Supermarkets should check that their shelves are sturdy, and products are stacked securely. They should also place warning signs and barriers to prevent customers from getting too close to high shelves.
Accidents involving shopping trolleys
Shopping trolleys can also cause accidents in supermarkets. Children can get injured by falling out of shopping trolleys or getting hit by carts pushed by other customers.
To prevent these kinds of accidents, supermarkets should regularly maintain their shopping carts, which they should keep well maintained and have functioning safety features such as seat belts for children. They should also have designated areas for parking shopping carts to prevent them from blocking aisles and causing obstructions.
Duty of Care and Breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act
Supermarkets owe a duty of care to their customers, which means they must take reasonable care to ensure their safety while on the premises. This duty comes from the Occupiers Liability Act 1957, which states that occupiers are responsible for their visitors’ safety.
Supermarkets must also comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act enforced by the Health and Safety Executive. The Health and Safety Act outlines the responsibilities of employers to guarantee a safe working environment for employees and visitors. When the store management or owners breach these statutory duties, and someone suffers an injury, the injured party may decide to bring a personal injury claim against the store because of the breach.
Steps to Take After a Supermarket Accident
If you have been injured in a supermarket accident, the first step is to seek medical attention for your injuries. Getting prompt medical evidence is important for your health and your claim.
It is also essential to report the incident to the store manager and get their contact details and the names of any witnesses present. The store should complete an internal accident report and document it in their accident book. Request a copy of the entry in the book and any CCTV footage that may have captured the incident.
Taking pictures of the site of the accident and of your injuries can also help strengthen your claim.
It will be helpful for your claim to keep a record of any expenses you incur due to the injury, such as medical bills and loss of earnings.
Medical Treatment and Documenting Your Injuries
You must get medical treatment after an accident, even if the injury seems minor. Some injuries may not show symptoms immediately, and delayed treatment can worsen the condition.
Seeking medical attention also helps document your injuries, which can be used as evidence when making a compensation claim.
However, the primary reason for getting treated is that you should prioritise your health and welfare after an accident. You’ll have plenty of time to think about bringing a personal injury claim at a later stage.
Time Limits for Making a Claim
There are time limits for making a compensation claim after a supermarket accident. In most cases, you must claim within three years from the accident date.
‘Making a claim’ means sending the necessary paperwork to court. Once the court has received and reviewed the paperwork, it issues the claim. At this point, the claim is formally issued, and the usual three-year time limit, known as the ‘limitation period,’ stops running.
It is important to note that some exceptions apply, such as cases involving children or individuals who lack the mental capacity to handle their own claims. It would be best if you took legal advice to ensure you do not miss the deadline for making a claim.
Many people hesitate to claim compensation due to the fear of having to pay legal fees.
However, Mooneerams personal injury solicitors usually fund supermarket injury claims using a no win, no fee agreement, which means you only pay if your claim is successful.
If your claim isn’t successful, you will usually have no legal fees to pay to the other side or us*. This type of agreement can give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on your recovery.
(*This assumes you give an honest account of how the accident happened and the nature and extent of your injuries.)
The Claims Process and What to Expect
- The first step in making a personal injury claim is to find a firm of solicitors who specialise in this area of law, like Mooneerams. They will be able to advise you whether you have a strong case and how much compensation you may be entitled to.
- Choosing an experienced solicitor with a good track record of winning personal injury cases. This will give you the best chance of winning your claim.
- Once you have found a suitable solicitor, they will gather evidence to support your claim. This may include obtaining medical reports, witness statements, and accident scene photographs.
- Your solicitor will contact the person or organisation responsible for your injury and inform them that you are making a claim.
- The next important step is when your solicitor gets to the position where they can to negotiate a settlement of your claim with the other party. Your solicitor will put forward a figure for compensation based on the evidence they have gathered. The other party may accept this figure or make a counteroffer.
- Your solicitor will advise whether to accept any offers or continue negotiating to settle the supermarket claim.
- Your case may go to court if your solicitor and the other side cannot negotiate a mutually acceptable settlement or if the supermarket’s lawyers or insurance company refuse to admit liability for the accident. It is rare for this to happen, as most personal injury claims are settled out of court.
- However, if your case goes to court, your solicitor will represent you and argue your case. The judge will then decide on the amount of compensation you are entitled to.
Personal injury claims can take several months to a year or more to complete, depending on the complexity of the case, the extent of the injuries, or both.
It is vitally important to choose a solicitor who is experienced in this area of the law and can guide you through the process. With the right solicitor working on your behalf, you can be confident that you will receive the compensation you deserve.
What types of compensation can I claim if I’m injured in a supermarket accident claim?
You may be able to claim several types of compensation, depending on your case’s circumstances.
General damages are the most common type of compensation in a supermarket accident injury claim. An award of general damages compensates you for the pain and suffering you experience due to your injury.
The amount of compensation you can claim for general damages will depend on the severity of your injuries and how they have affected your life.
Another type of compensation that you may be able to claim is special damages. Special damages compensate you for any financial losses you have suffered due to your injury.
Special damages include claims for loss of earnings, medical expenses, and travel costs. To claim for special damages, you must provide evidence supporting each claim, such as receipts or invoices.
In some cases, you may also be able to claim for future losses. This category of damages can include future loss of earnings if you cannot work due to your injury or future medical expenses.
To claim for future losses, you must still provide evidence to support your claims, e.g., expert medical reports or financial projections.
Overall, the compensation you may be able to claim for in a personal injury claim will depend on the individual circumstances of your case, which will be unique to you.
To receive the maximum compensation you are entitled to, working with an experienced personal injury solicitor who can help you navigate the legal process and build a strong case is vital.
Call Mooneerams Solicitors now on 029 2048 3615 and speak, without obligation, to one of our personal injury team about making a No Win No Fee supermarket injury claim.
How much compensation will I get for an accident in supermarket claim?
The compensation you can receive for your supermarket accident injury claim depends on many factors, including the injury severity, the impact of the injury on your life and your ability to work.
Slip trip fall accidents can result in compensation ranging from a few hundred to several thousand pounds.
Injuries such as head injuries and broken bones can result in higher compensation settlements.
It is essential to seek legal advice to determine the compensation amount you may be entitled to. If you want to see the types of compensation you could get for different kinds of injury, visit our Compensation Calculator.
Summary
Supermarket accidents are not uncommon, especially slip trip and fall accidents. Other common types of accidents that fall within the definition of a supermarket accident include car park accidents, warehouse cage accidents, and shelving accidents.
Supermarket accident claims can help you recover damages for personal injury and financial losses incurred as a result.
Get sound legal advice and keep a day to day of how your injuries affect your life. Keep receipts of expenditure, to support your claim. Record any expenses you incur, including medical fees and loss of earnings.
Finally, do not be afraid to claim the compensation you are entitled to.
If you have been injured in a supermarket and want to claim compensation, contact us today for a free consultation. Call Mooneerams on 029 2048 3615.
Our personal injury team members have a wealth of legal experience – over 150 years between them.
